Improving data quality at trusts for PCTs
Since we started the programme in 2007, the average number of clinical coding errors at trusts has decreased by 5 per cent (from 16 per cent to 11 per cent).
The programme has identified about £9m of financial errors resulting from wrong data.
Moving the programme forward
We are moving towards a more risk-based approach on areas we have reviewed over the last three years – focusing on trusts that need to improve the most and on independent providers. We will also do more work direct with Commissioners by reviewing their contract management arrangements, including how Primary Care Trusts involve and engage GPs in their commissioning and contract arrangements.
Reviewing and improving
The framework is also moving into reviewing the accuracy of costing data used by many trusts and Primary Care Trusts. Following pilots last year, we have agreed with the Department of Health that 2009/10 reference costs submissions will be reviewed at all acute trusts. These reference costs are widely-used by trusts and Primary Care Trusts locally, and determine many of the national tariffs set each year. In particular, local contract prices for non-PbR activity are often based on reference costs – an area where our pilot work indicated significant variability in the quality of data.
The programme for 2010/11 reflects the responses we received to our consultation in 2009. The consultation documents are available below.